You are awesome.

Awesome so lovely video.

✅✅✅

Retired, I typically go out each morning before sunrise, before dawn and that is the best time of day....even if I don't take one photo!

3:04 the lens hood isnt mounted properly

That’s me every day

It's ok, there wont be any animals to photograph soon anyways.

Come to the UK, it is July and rain is forecast for the whole month. Or go to Donana in Spain, an internationally important wetland, now dry because farmers have sucked out all the water, or Malaga province where a 3yr drought has all but eliminated the wildlife. Scotland is better if you are not eaten by midges. If you combine that with ill health, photography won't be the only thing you give up.

The problem is when you do something and try to make a living out of it , in contrast to doing it as an amateur, doing it for the love of it

Out of joy and questioning your passion ? YEP been there often. Every time I get ready to quit and sell it all I'll find a place one 1 shot out of 1000 in my cards that reminds me why I do it.

Amen. Nature is medicine. I like being out in Nature and don’t like the processing side so much, as I sit in front of a computer for work. Recently I try to take less photos when I’m out. I look for the “ shot of the day”. If the birds aren’t out, I may turn to bees and butterflies. Even spiders and bugs. I try to find a way to take a great picture of a common subject when things are slow. You live in migration heaven! It must feel very slow there now!

Kevin Kevin Kevin. I'm telling you, watching your videos is like sitting with a friend at the end of a day sharing our experiences. I just drove 1000 miles to the southeastern corner of Arizona to spend a week hanging out in nature photographing birds. Of all the birds I have seen so far I only have one picture I really like. I have never seen this type of bird before so very happy to get a photo. Two Black bellied whistling ducks standing together on a rock in the middle of a pond. The last type of bird I thought I would see in the desert in July. Anyway thanks for another great video. Joe

Your timing is impeccable, thanks.

Your story to so relatable to many of us. Keep remembering the “why” and enjoy nature as much as you can. Thank you for another great video.

Right on brother. Keep up the good work man.

Several years ago I put away the camera and was done with photography for good. It really had very little to do with photography itself, but a lot of little things everywhere. I don't know how long this lasted, but it was a few months at least. I finally took the camera out to shoot some photos of my daughters for a mothers day present to my wife. I think she was more excited about my return to photography than I was. Haven't put the camera away in the same manner since, but I definitely get moments that I feel like I'm ready to do so. It's usually the times when I haven't been able to get out like I really want to, but as soon as I get out with the camera, I'm cured. Keep living the dream.

I also had some time off wildlife, because in my local area waterbirds disappeared for whole spring and appeared just recently. And now I started to enjoy the hobby again. Anyway it is hard to not get bored if you do something everyday. Thanks for the videos man :)

Good video as usual :)

Stick with it Kevin. Your words and videos having more impact than you can imagine.

Thank you. You seem to post videos like this when I need to be reminded that I am not alone in my depression and discouragement. Seeing the lovely videos and photos that you take when you go out is motivating.

Exactly how I feel and what I keep turning back to when someone tells me I'm doing it all wrong. Thank you for the clarification of just going with the flow and being present.

I couldn't find the link to the retractable stand that held the reflector.

I think the blue heron has swallowed a fish the wrong way. They usually turn the fish so the dorsal fin will fold back as it goes down the throat. This one may have swallowed the fish tail first and it is stuck.

I have a few things i dislike about this lens but i think they all stem down to the price. It was just too expensive for what it was at f7.1 it looks like its now on sale for ~$500 less than before but that also hurts having bought it at the $2600 price. Things I like: 1. Flexibility of 100-500 2. 0.35x magnification and close focus 3. Size Dislikes: 1. F7.1 aperature 2. Placement of control ring and manual focus 3. Zoom tightener instead of a lock 4. Dust pump without the internl zoom. 5. Annoying filter mechanism on the lens cap 6. Not great with teleconverter

I’d also say be an expert in your area. Sometimes you don’t need to drive for hours or exotic areas, wildlife can be found in local parks or other areas even in the city.

Welldone Mr. Nordstrom on such a clear video clip. Well presented detail of the items you used. Your images of flowers/insects/etc - superb. The flexible arm to hold the deflector is such a good idea, that i have just ordered one. F.Y.I. Mr. Nordstrom, you have forgotten to add it to your gear list. But, i have located it on the internet, and it is a called a Wimberley PP-400 Ground Plamp ( Wimberley Manufacturers Part Number: PP-400 ). Thankyou for creating your YT videos..

Excellent! I am retired and on a fixed income. I bought a cropped sensor used (Canon R7) and 2 used RF lenses for less than $2500. Yesterday at dawn we had a doe give birth to twin fawns in our Montana pasture and got some great shots from our deck with a $600 (used) Canon RF800 lens (equiv to 1280mm due to the crop sensor).

Was hoping for creamy backgrounds.

Hi, I'm having a hard time getting bokeh. I have the 2.8 or more. I've used all the settings. Ap shutter auto program mode on my 5d mark 2. With canon 100mm f2.8 I also take photos with a far away background I blurrs but I can still tell what the background is. Even though it's far away?only mode haven't used yet is manual.